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As the weather cools, we’ve been gearing up for our annual celebrity golf outing. This year, Rock N’ Jock for Justice will be hosted at York Golf Club and will include celebrities from The Ohio State University, the Bengals, the Browns, the Steelers, and many more teams. We hope that you can all join us for a fun afternoon of golf and raising money to protect the rights of crime victims!

In August, our staff attended the National Organization for Victim Assistance (NOVA) Annual Conference in Florida. The conference emphasized self-care for advocates. Our staff was able to network with victim professionals from around the country. Staff attended trainings on Trauma-Informed Victim Interviewing, Ethics in Victim Services, Building Trust Between Victims & Police, Strengthening Partnerships within our Community, and many others.

Dave Jingo has been in the television business for over 30 years. His clients have included the Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Cavaliers, Cleveland Clinic, Great Lakes Science Center, and University of Akron. Dave has edited and produced many television shows, including “Urban Cancer Project: A Family’s Story”, for which he won an Emmy Award.

Brandi McGinnis has volunteered her time as a paralegal student intern with OCVJC for two semesters. During her time at OCVJC, she has performed many legal research and writing tasks, including extensive work on Marsy’s Law case law from throughout the country. Brandi’s comprehensive knowledge and attention to detail have made her an invaluable resource. Currently a paralegal student, Brandi is departing OCVJC to attend law school. OCVJC wishes Brandi the best of luck in law school and beyond.

Kanchanarani Krishnamoorthy generously volunteers her time helping Ohio Crime Victim Justice Center. Kanchana comes from an I.T. background and uses her skills to help OCVJC tackle challenging technology projects. Kanchana is leading the charge in improving OCVJC’s Google Adwords marketing campaign. Her tireless efforts have allowed many more people to learn about OCVJC’s services and trainings. OCVJC thanks Kanchana for her hard work and dedication to the victims’ rights movement.

On April 12, Ohio Crime Victim Justice Center and Farmers New World Life Insurance honored survivors, advocates, law enforcement, prosecutors, legislators, and community leaders who have made significant contributions in protecting, preserving, and advancing the rights of crime victims. These individuals possess Courage to Fight, Strength to Heal, Power to Survive, and Leadership to Inspire. They are truly “Models of Justice.” This year’s awards ceremony honored eleven “Models of Justice.”

In 1983, Marsy Nicholas, a University of California Santa Barbara student, was stalked and killed by her ex-boyfriend. After the crime, Marsy’s family suffered considerable distress, as they juggled coping with the loss of a beloved daughter while simultaneously dealing with her murderer’s presence in their town. In one instance, Marsy’s mother walked into a supermarket after visiting her daughter’s grave, and saw the accused murderer. She had no idea that he had been released on bail.

PLEASE NOTE: This explanation addresses the Marsy’s Law constitutional amendment only. Implementing legislation will refine and define many of the rights discussed herein. The goal of implementation language associated with Marsy’s Law is to ensure that it is easy and practical for crime victims to understand and exercise their rights.

My name is April Brown, and I joined OCVJC’s team in November to help with event planning. I also volunteer for American Heart Association and Habitat for Humanity. I enjoy giving back to my community, spending time with my family, and making a difference in the world. I decided to join OCVJC because I believe that everyone needs a helping hand during their darkest days and should know that they are not alone. By helping with event planning, I will promote the services OCVJC provides, and help raise money to ensure this organization stays funded to serve victims of crime.

Sarah Letson is a volunteer writer who has generously volunteered her services since August, 2017. Her writing is featured every month in OCVJC’s newsletter. Sarah graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Bachelors of Arts in Screen Arts and Cultures. From there, she went to work in Brand Management for the Kraft Heinz Company, leading marketing campaigns on Lunchables, Oscar Mayer cold cuts, and Oscar Mayer bacon.